Alaska is known for glaciers, national parks, the vast wilderness, Northern lights, midnight sun, fishing industry, oil industry, and cruises.
Geography & Demographics
| State Abbreviation |
AK |
| State Capital |
Juneau |
| State Size |
Total (Land + Water): 663,267 sq miles; Land Only: 571,951 sq miles |
| Number of Counties |
27 |
| Time Zone |
Alaska Time Zone, Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone |
| Bordering States |
None |
| Highest Point | Denali, 20,310 feet |
| Tallest Building | Conoco-Phillips Building in Anchorage, 296 feet |
| Largest Stadium | Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, capacity 6,290 |
| National Parks |
Denali National Park and Preserve
Gates of the Arctic National Park
Glacier Bay National Park
Katmai National Park and Preserve
Kenai Fjords National Park
Kobuk Valley National Park
Lake Clark National Park
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve |
| State Population (2020) | 733,391 |
| State Population Density | 1.3 people / square mile |
| Area Codes |
907 |
| Top 5 Cities (2020 population) |
Anchorage (287,095)
Juneau (31,849)
Fairbanks (30,696)
Wasilla (11,099)
Sitka (8,405)
|
Government & Legislature
State Symbols
| State Bird |
Willow ptarmigan |
| State Fish | Giant king salmon |
| State Flower |
Forget Me Not |
| State Fossil | Wooly mammoth |
| State Gem | Jade |
| State Insect | Four spot skimmer dragonfly |
| State Land Mammal | Moose |
| State Marine Mammal | Bowhead whale |
| Nickname |
The Last Frontier |
| State Mineral | Gold |
| State Motto |
North to the future |
| State Sport | Dog mushing |
| State Tree |
Sitka spruce |
Sports Teams
| Major Sports Teams |
None |
| NCAA Division I Schools |
None
|
| City |
Table Tennis Club |
| Fairbanks | Fairbanks Interior Table Tennis |
Popular Tourist Attractions
- Alaska Native Heritage Center: Cultural center in Anchorage, Alaska.
- Alaska SeaLife Center: Aquarium in Seward, Alaska.
- Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center: Wildlife refuge in Anchorage, Alaska.
- Alaska Zoo: Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska.
- Alyeska Resort: Ski resort in Gridwood, Alaska.
- Anchorage Museum: Museum in Anchorage, Alaska.
- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: National wildlife refuge in northeastern Alaska.
- Chilkoot Trail: 33-mile trail from Dyea, Alaska, to Bennett, British Columbia, in Canada.
- Chugach State Park: State park in Anchorage, Alaska.
- Denali National Park: National park in the middle of Alaska.
- Goldbelt Tram: Cable car station in Juneau, Alaska.
- Icy Strait Point: Tourist attraction in Hoonah, Alaska.
- Kenai Fjords National Park: National park on the Kenai Peninsula in southern Alaska.
- Kincaid Park: Municipal park in Anchorage, Alaska.
- Matanuska Glacier: Glacier in southern Alaska.
- Mendenhall Glacier: Glacier about 12 miles from Juneau, Alaska.
- Portage Glacier: Glacier on the Kenai Peninsula in southern Alaska.
- Tongass National Forest: National forest in southeastern Alaska.
UNESCO Heritage Sites
Festivals and Events
Top festivals and events in Alaska. They are listed in approximate order of when they take place during the year.
Popular Iconic Alaska Foods
Alaska is famous for the following foods:
- Reindeer Sausage
- King Crab Leg
- Wild Alaskan Salmon
- Wild Berries
- Akutaq (Eskimo Ice Cream)
- Sourdough
- Miktuk
- Oysters
- Halibut
- Spruce Tips
- Berry Pie
- Moose Stew
- Fry Bread
Famous People Born In Alaska
Famous Actors And Actresses
- Michelle Johnson
- Annie Parisse
- Darby Stanchfield
Alaska Fun Facts
- The name "Alaska" was derived from the Aleut word "Alaxsxaq," which means "mainland," or literally, "object to which the action of the sea is directed."
- Outsiders first discovered Alaska in 1741 when Danish explorer Vitus Jonassen Bering sighted it on a voyage from Siberia.
- Alaska is the only state that does not collect state sales tax or levy an individual state income tax
- Alaska is home to North America's highest peak, Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley), at 20,320 feet.
- The closest distance between mainland Alaska and mainland Russia is about 55 miles. In addition, the U.S.-owned Small Diomede and Russia-owned Big Diomede, both islands in the Bering Straits, are only about 2.5 miles apart.
- Alaska has a longer coastline than all the other U.S. states combined. Alaska has 6,640 miles of coastline and, including islands, has 33,904 miles of shoreline.
- Alaska has over 3 million lakes, of which 3,197 have an official name.
- Alaska has over 130 volcanoes that have been active within the last two million years.
- Juneau has no road access to the rest of the state. It is the only capital city in the United States accessible only by boat or plane.
- Juneau is also the largest city in the United States, covering 3,108 square miles. Juneau is larger than the state of Rhode Island.
- Nearly one-third of Alaska lies within the Arctic Circle.
This page was last updated on October 10, 2024.
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